PITCH. 2025 Recap
Our 2025 StartUp Pitch competition brings our community of entrepreneurs and investors to come together and support the development of new business ideas.​
What began with 77 applications has narrowed to just five finalists competing for $25,000 in non-dilutive funding at StartUp Westport's first-ever pitch competition on Wednesday, November 20 at The Westport Library.
The competitive, "Shark Tank"-style event will feature a panel of Westport-based venture capitalists who will evaluate live pitches from early-stage companies that have spent months refining their businesses through mentorship and coaching.
Sponsored by
The Finalists
These five finalists represent innovation across healthcare, finance, food
technology, automotive, and cybersecurity:
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Chroma Shield - Healthcare technology
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Mirabelle Medical - Healthcare technology
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Neuro Puffs - Food innovation
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Nexa Tax - Financial services technology
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Wheel Price - Automotive technology
Kira Vanderwert is the Operating Partner at Outsiders Fund, a CT/NYC based venture capital firm focused on founders bringing outside perspectives to disrupt overlooked industries. She spent 15 years leading strategy and M&A in financial services before joining Outsiders.
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Kal Amin is the Managing Partner at 1848 Ventures, leads the firm's venture studio building AI-driven solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. He co-founded and served as CEO of Sounder, an AI-powered audio intelligence platform acquired by iHeartMedia in 2024. His executive career includes roles as President and COO at Flipboard, VP of Global Business Operations at Spotify and several senior roles at Google.
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Matt Gorin is the Managing Partner and Co-founder of Contour Venture Partners and brings deep experience in Enterprise SaaS and Financial Services. His portfolio includes notable companies like Datadog, Pendo, and SmartAsset. Before co-founding Contour, Matt was part of the launch team at Promontory Interfinancial Network, which sold to Blackstone for approximately $2.5 billion.
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Cliff Sirlin is the Venture Partner at Launch Capital and President of StartUp Westport, is a seasoned entrepreneur who built businesses across diverse industries for over 20 years. He also serves as a Professor at NYU Stern, where he co-leads the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Program.
Our First Pitch Competition features:
•Local /Connecticut-based companies
•Mentorship & Educational Support
•Shark Tank Like Pitch Finale
•Substantial Non-dilutive investment for awardees
Criteria:
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Pre-institutional funding round
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Existing corporation in an evaluable category
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Connecticut-based founder or strong state association
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Scalable business model
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No "sin" products (smoke/vape, alcohol, etc)